Methods and apparatus for producing electrical batteries

Abstract

In the formation of a battery, electrodes are connected to connector bars by mounting the electrodes in cassettes on the side of a horizontal rotatable drum. By rotating the drum, the electrodes travel in a vertically oriented, circular travel path between various work stations. Rotary displacement of the electrodes involves forward and rearward movements. All forward movements are of equal distance. All rearward movements are of equal distance. However, the distances of forward movement are different from those of rearward movement. The work stations include an electrode receiving station, a fluxing station, a connector bar casting station, and an electrode removal station. A conveyor travels horizontally through the cylinder, carrying battery containers to receive the electrodes.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a method for producing electrical series for electrical accumulators which includes the steps of sequentially displacing electrodes to various stations along a work cycle and connecting the electrodes to connector bars, the improvement wherein the electrode series belonging to a given battery are placed in a cassette so as to travel jointly, and the cassette is displaced to the work stations in a vertically oriented, circular closed path of travel wherein the cassette is displaced in opposite directions along the path of travel, the displacement being carried out in stages, wherein the movements in one direction are of equal magnitude and the movements in the opposite direction are of equal magnitude but unequal to those in said one direction. 
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1 wherein movements in one direction comprise one-half of the path of travel, and the movements in the other direction comprise one-sixth of the path of travel. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said cassette is displaced between an electrode-receiving station, a flux-applying station, a casting station and a removal station.